Nike has exercised its right to match Under Armour's endorsement offer to Kevin Durant, according to sources.

Nike has countered a proposal of $265 to $285 million and believes it will re-sign Durant to a deal for the next 10 years.

The deal between Nike and Durant could hit up to $300 million based on royalties. Nike officials told Durant and his team at Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports on Saturday that it would indeed step up enough to allow the world's largest shoe and apparel company to keep him.

There were strong indications that Durant would go to Under Armour, and the decision has weighed heavily on him, according to sources.

Under Armour wooed Stephen Curry to join them and leave Nike last year, but they have now missed out on Durant and Blake Griffin, who joined the Jordan Brand.

Durant has really terrible shoes..._________________"Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money & position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold & contain life, but the quality of life doesn't change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

You really think Under Armour is paying him if he DOESN'T play basketball?

Michael Jordan hasn't been on an NBA court in almost 20 years, is he getting paid?

Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest NBA player of all time and is one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world. If Durant quit playing basketball tomorrow, no one would remember him in five years. He's obviously the second best player in the league right now, but he hasn't done anything at this point to justify a contract like that if he's not still playing and remaining relevant. Jordan doesn't have to play to remain relevant. He owns the Hornets and is a global icon.

Durant just doesn't have the global appeal and recognition that Jordan has, at least not yet (although he probably never will).